Archive for the ‘Community Conservation’ Category
Above: Majoreni Primary School children demonstrate their new knowledge of the dolphin species found along their coast When Kenya Wildlife Service took their Year of the Dolphin education to Majoreni Primary School, it really was something special for the children of this out-of-the-way coastal village. Very much off-the-beaten-track, this was the first time they had played host to Kenya Wildlife Service and had environmental education brought to them, their first opportunity to learn about dolphins and with the aid of DVDs and a computer screen, the first time that many of them had even seen a dolphin! Above: The children cram in to the classroom and gather at the window to watch a film of dolphins and other marine wildlife The KWS team of Rachel and Emanuel, the Tourism Officer, taught the children about the four species of dolphin we know to inhabit this part of the East African coast, their basic anatomy and biology - most of them assumed that dolphins were fish, so it was something of a surprise to learn dolphins had more in common with people!
Above: The enthusiastic children learning their way around a dolphin The teachers were equally enthusiastic and full of praise for the KWS education team and Year of the Dolphin, sponsored by tour operators TUI and Pollmans, expressing their gratitude for coming there to teach their children. Although a long and tiring day, for Rachel it was a highlight of her week, and exceptionally satisfying for her to contribute knowledge to a community so eager to learn. Above: Rachel and Emanuel had to take their class outside, the classrooms not being big enough to take all the children that the school wanted them to teach
As International Year of the Dolphin is extended by UNEP / CMS in to 2008 to build on the remarkable acievements of last year, Kenya Widlife Service and other stakehloders in Kenya are taking the message of marine conservation to new audiences and new communities.
Above: Majoreni Dolphin Club is launched, their first task to plant the mangrove saplings visible behind them Yesterday took us to to Majoreni, half way between Shimoni and the border with Tanzania, and another poor rural fishing community that is willing to think long term and look after their natural resources. The event saw children from Shimoni, Mkwiro and Wasini schools journey down to spread the messages they learnt last year of dolphin conservation, and the students of schools in Majoreni and neighbouring Vanga perform equally impressive and educational songs and drama. Above: Majoreni’s school kids receive dolphin education books, kindly sponsored by TUI, UNEP/CMS and Whale & Dolphin Conservation Society But the adults are also playing their role, the fishermen having taken the time and effort to receive education on responsible fishing practices - this will be backed by a fishing gear exchange porgramme. And the adult drama group performed a play to highlight the threats to dolphins and spread the message to the whole communtiy, many of whom stood in the rain, then hot sun, all morning to watch the event. A local celebrity was also on hand to spread the word - the local celebrated poet and village elder performed an inspiring traditional swahili style poem that touched both local community members and international guests. And the guests were not just there to observe - the first thing we did was to get our hands dirty planting tree seedlings at the local school, under the guidance of the Kenya Forestry Service - a sustainable alternative to the ecologically important mangroves which are traditionally cut for local construction.
Above: Robert Hepworth, Executive Secretary, CMS, planting bamboo - nicknamed locally as the fisherman’s friend, for it’s diverse uses Another very successful day, the out-of-the-way community of Majoreni were excited to be the centre of attention and to have had so many visitors in the preceeding weeks coming to provide free and valuable education to them. It was an exciting day for all, including my new buddy, Saidi, below, who learnt a bit of photography from me and has welcomed me back to visit their mangroves next time… I can’t wait to go back and see the progress!
Above: local school children are treated to a trip to Kisite Marine Park to look for dolphins Firstly, you may have noticed I’ve been a bit quiet on WildlifeDirect these last few months, sadly the unrest in Kenya forced us to take a break, but I’m very pleased to report that GVI is back in Shimoni and preparing to get the research started again.
Above: Lionel Murage from East Africa Wildlife Society addresses the local communities at Year of the Dolphin in Shimoni Until then I’d like to keep you updated with all the hard work that has been underway in our absence. 2007 was designated ‘Year of the Dolphin’ by UNEP’s Convention on Migratory Species (CMS), an initiative to stimulate international awareness and conservation action. So successful was it, especially right here in Kenya, that it has been extended in 2008.
Above: Robert Hepworth, Executive Secretary CMS, and Yussef Adan, KWS Warden of Kisite Marine Park talk with the local boat operators Last year focussed heavily on teaching the kids, the future guardians of Kenya’s wildlife, but also saw the introduction by Kenya Widlife Service of the first ‘Code of Conduct’ to address dolphin-watching tourism. This year, emphasis is being placed on educating and engaging the local fishermen and tour boat crews, the ones who can make a difference today. Above: local boat operators ready to receive their certificates after attending workshops and lectures on dolphins and responsible tourism by Kenya Wildlife Service On Saturday, Kenya Wildlife Service head quarters for the Kisite Mpunguti Marine Protected Area hosted a wonderful event to link last year in to this year’s activities, attended by the CMS Executive Secretary, Robert Hepworth. The event saw the launch of a new KWS patrol boat to monitor repsonsible dolphin tourism, certificates for the local boat operators and fishermen who have given up their time to sit through some thorough dolphin education, a trip in to the marine park to see dolphins for many of the local children who have been the most avid young conservationists and the launch of new ‘Dolphin Clubs’ in 15 local schools to promote coastal conservation and environmental awareness.
Above: The new KWS dolphin patrol boat In addition to hard work and commitment from KWS, ably supported by Rachel, our former GVI Marine Science Officer and Expedition Manager, the Kenya Forestry Service, Fisheries Department and Kenya Marine & Fisheries Research Institute have all been involved. With support coming from major tour operators and many local boat operators, it all goes to show that Kenya’s commitment to conservation at every level certainly hasn’t been disrupted! Above: Rachel joins some of the local school children on Kisite Island in the Marine Park
Above: Mkwiro Primary School perform dolphin acrobatics alongside thier song ‘Conserve our Dolphins’ I had a wonderful day, with many songs and performances from the local school children to keep us entertained… the highlight for all of us was the official inauguration of the Dolphin Clubs, the kids putting on a full marching drill after an intensive day’s training from the KWS rangers…
Above: Inauguration of the new school Dolphin Clubs
Following my post on 25th November about the new threat of charcoal burning in Shimoni Forest, and concerns that you shared with us about it, I am pleased to be able to update you with some very encouraging news already! Having started reporting what we observe in terms of clear felling and now the alarming number of charcoal ovens that have sprung up, to Kenya Forest Service, they are taking an active interest. Above: The type of tree often targeted for timber, it’s height and canopy size mean that felling it can create a huge clearing as it takes down neighbouring trees Just over a week ago a Forestry Officer came down to Shimoni to see for himself the scale of clear felling near Transect 1. Yesterday he sent four rangers down, to investigate the charcoal burning on Transect 6. They were dismayed not only by the charcoal burning which they confirmed was all illegal, but also the clear felling of land and the cutting of timber. Above: Saw pit on Transect 6, where timber is cut in to planks before being carried out the forest The four rangers dismantled five of the charcoal ovens and apprehended one of the charcoal burners they came across in the forest. At our request they took him to the village chairman to decide what action to take - an important process in ensuring that it is the local community taking the active role in managing their forest. Above: The gap left by a used charcoal oven in Shimoni Forest We are currently supporting the formation of a new community based organisation to spearhead community conservation and management of their forest and I look forward to introducing you to ‘Friends of Shimoni Forest’ very soon. Watch this space!
Kenya may be most famous for its incredible big game and open savanna, but its coastal forests, although small, are no less significant for wildlife conservation. The Eastern Africa Coastal Forests Ecoregion is in fact the smallest of 25 Global Biodiversity Hotspots but contains the highest density of endemic plant and vertebrate animal species.
Above: one of the Colobus monkeys spotted during Friday’s survey After two years, it is still a great privilege for me to know that a short walk from my office could bring the opportunity to watch the beautiful Angolan Black and White Colobus monkeys in the canopy above me, or a glimpse of the wonderful Zanj Elephant Shrew darting through the leaf litter. Sadly it is also never far from my mind that any loss of coastal forest brings these creatures a step closer to extinction.
Above: Chainsaws are often heard in Shimoni Forest, this tree was recently cut on Transect 6 That’s why the sudden appearance of charcoal burning pits in Shimoni forest over the last few months has caused alarm amongst our research team and many of our friends in the community. Last Friday, GVI’s research team returned to survey Transect 6, our furthest away, only to return with the sad news that in the intervening few months, 5 charcoal burning pits have sprung up along a 500m stretch.
The illegal felling of these trees to slowly burn them in large earth ovens to produce charcoal not only scars the ground but leaves gaping holes in the canopy where troops of Colobus should be travelling, feeding or simply resting.
Above: Charcoal being packed up along Transect 6 Having recently estimated from our research that 5% of the forest we survey has been lost in just one year to clear felling of land, either for agriculture or development, this has added to a sense of urgency in bringing the local communities and private landowners together in finding solutions to the challenge of safeguarding the forest that remains.
I first arrived in Shimoni, a remarkable coastal community tucked away in southern Kenya close to the border with Tanzania, in November 2005, to set up GVI’s wildlife research and community development expedition. Since the beginning of 2006 we have been working closely with Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) and the local villagers to integrate scientific research in to conservation managament of the incredible natural ecosystems found here whilst supporting sustainable development amongst the local communities.
Our marine research programme aims to provide the first long term data on dolphin populations in Kenya, looking for answers to the most basic questions such as which species we have, how many individuals are there, and how are they using the marine habitats. Working in and around the Kisite Mpunguti Marine Protected Area, home to some of Kenya’s most stunning coral reefs, we are also assisting local partners such as Kenya Sea Turtle Conservation Committee to understand more about the endangered sea turtles here.
On dry land, we are undertaking surveys in Shimoni’s globally important but increasingly threatened coastal forest, to assess it’s importance for biodiversity conservation and monitor the nationally important population of the beautiful and charismatic Angolan Black and White Colobus.
With our research base in the remote, traditional community of Mkwiro, at the eastern end of Wasini Island, we have been supporting KWS in community development initiatives, delivering education to both school children and dedicated adult classes, helping the orphanage, and working with community groups to develop sustainable ways of generating alternative incomes. |
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